LESLIE LENDVOY
DESTIG TORONTO - ART | DESIGN | TRAVEL - ISSUE 09 / JANUARY 2021
BEST OF 2020 | TODAY'S GREAT CANADIAN ARTISTS | SPECIAL ART FEATURES | HOT PICKS
"HOW MARVELOUS THAT THEY BROUGHT FORTH SUCH MAGNIFICIENCE FROM THEIR BRUSHES AND CHISELS." - ANONYMOUS
"Painting fulfills my need to preserve that which is beautiful or ephemeral in nature. It’s heartbreaking, to see our world struggling to maintain its balance and health, now more than ever. As life becomes more hectic and challenging, and our environment more threatened, I become more committed than ever to capturing on canvas the essence and spirit of that which stirs my soul."
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Leslie Lendvoy is a west coast artist from a five
years, taking workshops with many top artists from across
generation BC family. She has a Masters of Fine Arts
North America. Since retiring from teaching, my travels
from UBC and is a juried member of the Federation
have taken me plein air painting in the Rockies, Croatia,
of Canadian Artists. Her work wins awards and hangs
along the wild Pacific coast, throughout the South West,
in galleries and homes in BC and in Arizona, where
Mexico, and especially into Arizona during the winters.
she spends her winters plein air painting.
I’ve always found that painting sharpens my senses and deepens my appreciation of this world. Recently I’ve
How did you become the artist you are today?
focused on painting in oils, still searching, camera in hand,
Growing up on the west coast of BC, I spent much of
for that unique combination of lighting, colour and
my life outdoors exploring nature’s amazing vistas and
composition... whether it be a remote strip of rugged
stories either through photography or painting. My
coastline or an old crumbling adobe on a forgotten Barrio
uncle, RE Walker, was an accomplished west coast
corner.
artist so watching him paint with passion when I was young always inspired me. I completed my Masters
How do you approach painting a particular piece?
Degree in Fine Arts at the University of BC and
I’m drawn to interesting light, reflections and mood...
experimented with multiple mediums throughout the
places and moments that have stories to tell. Sometimes I
"Throughout my process I try to stay open to where my painting wants to take me, keeping drama and harmony always in mind."
use my plein air studies as a reference for
comfort
and
constancy
for
me.
larger work, other times I use my
Figuratively or literally, no matter how
photographs and start with a few
rough the seas or how steep the cliffs,
thumbnail sketches. Often, I go directly
being in nature centres me in time and
onto the canvas, toning it with an earthy
place. My everyday concerns seem trivial
colour and brushing in my overall design.
in comparison to the ageless wonders of
While wet, I play with the composition,
our world. I am forever grateful to nature
lifting out the lights and reinforcing the
for being there whenever I need solace.
darks. This initial stage of manipulating
Being an artist is my way of honouring her
the shapes and values is very visceral and
and giving back. Painting also fulfills my
instinctive as I work to capture what
need to preserve that which is beautiful
initially attracted me to the subject. Next I
or ephemeral in nature.
focus on choosing my colour palette, followed by brushstrokes, edges and
It’s heartbreaking, to see our world
highlights. Throughout my process I try to
struggling to maintain its balance and
stay open to where my painting wants to
health, now more than ever. As life
take me, keeping drama and harmony
becomes more hectic and challenging, and
always in mind.
our environment more threatened, I become more committed than ever to
Describe your relationship with nature.
capturing on canvas the essence and spirit
Nature has always been a major source of
of that which stirs my soul.
Your paintings achieve a rare balancing act: calming
beach awakened by a suddenly splash of sun. Calm and
colour choices and transitions, combined with exciting
energy, in harmony with each other. Even when I paint
depth result in refined pieces. They gently capture the
my animal portraits there is a push and pull between
viewer into exploring with the promise of discovering
strength and vulnerability: a balancing act. I love that my
or getting lost within the world of the painting. Thats
art is a way of celebrating nature’s stories, both simple
our view, but how do you see your paintings?
and grand. It is gratifying when I see my paintings
Thank you. You’ve described exactly my experience as I
hanging in homes and galleries throughout BC and the
paint: it’s very much a balancing act. A constant push and
American South West because I know the stories I am
pull between drama and tranquility. A gentle touch; a
sharing through my art are recognized and appreciated
bold stroke. A neutral grey; a colourful highlight. A quiet
by others.
"When I paint with oil it almost feels like I’m sculpting, pushing and pulling the shapes into life."
Tell us about the mediums you have worked with.
West Coast Morning. I painted it after returning home
Throughout the years I’ve worked in a variety of mediums:
from a FCA Plein Air Retreat to Bamfield, BC, an isolated
charcoal, pastel, acrylics and oil. I also enjoyed working on
area perched way out on the Pacific west coast. It was
stained wooden furniture, incorporating the natural grain
challenging to paint the light just right and capture the
of the wood into paintings of farms and wildlife. When we
beautiful wildness of that wind battered point. I followed
travelled throughout the American southwest, I found
my heart on a lot of choices and was thrilled when it got
acrylics dried way too fast in the desert heat. I then
Honourable Mention in this year’s national show! I felt all
discovered pastels and loved the hands on experience of
along it was special so it was gratifying others did too.
layering them on sanded paper. Painting in oil, however, is
Island Memories is another one that stands out for the
now my favourite medium by far. I love it’s texture and
tranquil mood I was able to capture along with the strong
malleability... the richness of the colours and their ability
reflections that mirrored so many island moments for me.
to blend. When I paint with oil it almost feels like I’m
The palette and transitions were subtle and the rocks
sculpting, pushing and pulling the shapes into life.
challenging but I was pleased with the results. Heading West on Zero Avenue was a favourite drive
If you had to chose the top 3 artworks you have created,
when we lived on the farm. My heart always skipped
which would they be and why?
when the westward sky suddenly appeared, particularly
I learn so much about technique and myself with each of
at a dramatic moment. I was pleased with the way I
my paintings. Often the most difficult ones are the most
captured the vibrant sky on one of those evenings, as the
rewarding in terms of lessons learned. Then again, some
last of the sun spilled down through the trees onto that
flow surprisingly easily and feel equally satisfying. It’s
quiet country road. I started it as a monochromatic value
hard to chose the “top” three as the architecture and
study and it flowed well from the start. I love being on the
animal portraits are so different from the landscape
road, where it takes me, and the memories it brings me.
paintings but my personal favourite so far is probably
Here’s to the many paintings ahead!
What are you working on and what can we expect
"Your work has a magical luminous quality about it..." - Collector
from you in 2021? This past summer was busy: I was awarded Honourable Mention in the national Federation of Canadian Artists 2020 Landscapes Exhibit hosted by the FCA Granville Island Gallery in Vancouver, BC. We also sold our horse farm in Langley and downsized to a small village on the banks of the nearby Fraser River, surrounded by big sky, rivers, wetland trails, and rugged mountain views. I’ve been out plein air painting, gathering references for a new series on rivers and valleys. I’m also continuing with my west coast series based on years of travelling Vancouver Island and living on the Gulf Islands. In addition, I’m planning some 12x12 wildlife portraits as well as some architectural studies of our picturesque village and nearby heritage barns. I will miss our horses and farm, but downsizing gives me more time now to enter more shows, take on more commissions, get involved in environmental projects, and best of all— more time to paint and share what I love.
WHAT COLLECTORS AND VIEWERS SAY: "Your work has a magical luminous quality about it."- Susanna G., Tubac, Arizona "Another stunning work!" - Lindsay A. Nanaimo "Beautiful work. Your rocks are amazing." -Francesca D., Montana "Gorgeous rendition of our gorgeous and rugged BC coast."- Patti T., Abbotsford "Your treatment of water and reflections is superb! A real talent." - Bob H.,Tucson "A gem for sure. Wonderful light." - Alan Dunfield, Vancouver Island "This [animal portrait] is fantastic. I can almost touch him!!"- Rita, Delta "Lovely! A wonderful job of placing the paint and leaving it alone." - Lalita Hamill, Langley "Congratulations! You are running with the big dogs now!" - Gaye Adams, BC "I’ve been following Leslie’s work for some time, trying to purchase one before it sold, and finally got lucky when I saw the painting “West Coast Morning” in the FCA 2020 show. It reminds me of a family trip to the West Coast of Vancouver Island: rugged, rough, but so beautiful. " - Scott F.S. , Vancouver "I purchased the painting “Island Memories for its beauty and serenity. I have hung the painting in my office for it provides me with peace and serenity on those hectic work days." - Private Collector, BC
www.leslielendvoy.com